Fiona Hayes is a High Court judge who presides over cases in the family court. The situations facing her each day are fraught with moral and ethical dilemmas and she is respected for her clear and fair judgement. 

Fiona does not have any children of her own and, as we meet her, her husband of 30 years announces that he is about to embark on an affair. With this backdrop, Fiona is about to pronounce on a case which is to unsettle her as never before.

A 17-year-old boy is battling leukemia and urgently requires a blood transfusion to save his life. His parents, though, are Jehovah's Witnesses and are forbidding it from taking place. Fiona decides to leave the court arguments and meet the teenager to establish his state of mind, but she becomes more involved with the boy than she anticipated.

I found this an intriguing and compelling read, and was completely caught up in the 'other world' of life as a High Court judge. I was fascinated by the character of Fiona, her living arrangements, her working day, and the people she came into contact with, all of which was presented in a sparse, straightforward, objective style. I was less convinced about her relationship with the boy, but still shocked at the outcome. I loved it!